This blog post explores the origins of ancient music, the development of classical music through the ages, and the historical significance of the orchestra.
Music has accompanied humanity for a long time. Humanity’s interest in sound began with the chirping of birds. This led to enjoying music through singing and finger snapping, and objects like seashells and hunting bows began to be used as instruments. In fact, early music held meaning beyond simple enjoyment. Humans imitated the sounds of nature and created their own sounds, which gradually evolved into a tool for communication. Specific rhythms and melodies became crucial means for rituals, sacrifices, or communication between groups. Since then, music has been continuously used throughout history—whether for personal emotions like joy or sorrow, or for collective events like religious ceremonies and political rituals.
It is speculated that small-scale orchestras already existed in ancient Egypt. Artifacts from ancient Egypt include flutes, harps, and percussion instruments. They called music ‘hy,’ meaning joy. Music became an essential element in Egyptian royal ceremonies and sacrificial rites, with hymns dedicated to the gods and songs celebrating victory in war being performed. This music was not merely for enjoyment but served as a crucial tool to manifest divinity and power. The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamian civilization possessed a highly developed musical culture, often singing lyrical verses accompanied by instruments. The renowned ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras claimed that stars create music as they move, but the human ear has become so accustomed to earthly sounds that it cannot perceive the music of the heavens. The Greeks believed music was intimately connected to the human soul and thought it could improve human morality. Music occupied a significant place in the Greek educational system and was considered an essential means for maintaining balance between body and mind. In Rome, the center of ancient music, music was widely used not only in aristocratic festivals but also in comedies for the common people. Instruments like the litus and bucina, precursors to the trumpet, were already present in Rome at that time. Music was also extensively used in religious ceremonies.
Classical music developed after the emergence of medieval music and the Italian monk ‘Guido d’Arezzo’ naming the musical scale. Classical music is divided into six periods, with music from 476 to the 1400s termed medieval music. Most music was composed for use in churches, cathedrals, and monasteries, with the representative church music being ‘Gregorian chant,’ similar to modern a cappella. Medieval music served not only as an expression of faith but also as a means to solidify power structures. The Church used music to manifest divine authority, and clergy sought to convey spiritual power to the faithful through it. This period also saw the emergence of polyphonic music, with Notre Dame Cathedral serving as a central hub for this style. The period from 1400 to 1600 is termed Renaissance music, during which music shifted from being church-centered to human-centered, leading to the development of secular music. A prime example is the madrigal, a vocal song celebrating love. Renaissance music emphasized human emotions and experiences, opening a new chapter in artistic expression. Artists explored the human psyche and endeavored to express the complex emotions they felt through music. The period from 1600 to 1760 is known as Baroque music. ‘Baroque’ originates from the Portuguese word for ‘irregular pearl’. This signifies that harmony and balance were not the sole focus. The most significant characteristic was the emergence of instrumental pieces composed solely for musical instruments, rather than vocal-centered compositions. Many pieces also featured orchestral instruments performed alongside the harpsichord, a keyboard instrument. Furthermore, opera, a form blending vocal and orchestral music, was born. A representative composer of this era is ‘Johann Sebastian Bach’. The period from 1760 to 1820 is termed Classical music, during which musical development peaked. Notable figures include ‘Franz Joseph Haydn’, the father of the symphony who composed around 180 symphonies; ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’, who wrote his first symphony at age eight; and ‘Ludwig van Beethoven’, who, despite losing his hearing, achieved a beautiful synthesis of Classical and Romantic elements. Classical music emphasized the harmony between human reason and nature, producing beautiful melodies. Ludwig van Beethoven, who lost his hearing yet achieved harmony between Classicism and Romanticism to create beautiful melodies. Music of the Classical era emphasized the harmony between human reason and nature, prioritizing musical form and balance. This was intertwined with the social changes and philosophical trends of the time, reflecting an era where music transcended being merely an art form to fulfill a social role. The period from 1820 to 1910 is termed Romantic music, characterized by composers freely expressing their emotions. Composers of this era include ‘Franz Schubert’, ‘Felix Mendelssohn’, ‘Robert Schumann’, ‘Franz Liszt’, and ‘Frédéric François Chopin’. Additionally, many composers were active in Eastern Europe and Russia, with Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Modest Mussorgsky being representative figures. The level of orchestral performance reached its peak during this era. The Romantic period also emphasized the musical expression of the individual’s inner world and emotions, aligning with the Romantic tendencies evident in the literature and art of the time. Composers sought to build their own unique artistic worlds through their works, and these efforts led to the birth of new musical forms and genres. Music following this period is referred to as 20th-century music. 20th-century classical music was heavily influenced by the world wars. A prime example is ‘Arnold Schönberg’, who developed the twelve-tone technique and is often called the father of modern music. During this period, numerous attempts were made to fuse classical music with folk music, jazz, electronic music, and other genres. A prime example is George Gershwin, who blended classical and jazz. Highly innovative classical works also emerged. A notable example is John Cage’s ‘4’33″’, a piece featuring no musical notes on the score, only the musical term ‘Tacet’, meaning silence.
The orchestra is inseparable from classical music. However, orchestras aren’t exclusive to classical music; they frequently appear in contemporary music, popular music, and soundtracks. The origin of the word “orchestra” comes from the space between the stage and the seats in a theater, as this area was reserved for musicians. The orchestra originated in the Baroque era, where the harpsichord served as the central instrument, supported by other instruments. The form we recognize today emerged during the Classical period. To compose orchestral music, one must master orchestration, considering the unique sound and playing techniques of each instrument. The conductor acts as the orchestra’s leader, bringing the instruments together and directing rehearsals. The conductor first appeared during the Romantic era; before that, the harpsichordist or concertmaster performed the conducting role. Within the orchestra, each instrument has a designated seating position. While there are slight variations, generally, instruments with a softer volume sit closer to the conductor. The violin is a small string instrument that forms the core of the orchestra. The viola is slightly larger than the violin and produces a lower sound. The cello handles the lower notes and sometimes takes solos, while the double bass produces the lowest notes of all instruments and generally does not take solos. Wind instruments are divided into woodwinds and brass based on their materials, with woodwinds generally seated in front of brass. Woodwinds include the flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and contrabassoon. Brass instruments include the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba. At the very back of the stage, percussion instruments provide emphasis to the music. These include timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and triangle. There are also smaller-scale chamber orchestras, often called ensembles, which commonly take the form of trios, quartets, or quintets. Large-scale orchestras are divided into philharmonic orchestras and symphony orchestras. Philharmonic orchestras are composed of musicians belonging to orchestras established by private organizations. Symphony orchestras are composed of selected musicians, ranging from 80 to as many as 100 members. These two types of orchestras play a crucial role in modern music performances, active across diverse genres including classical, film music, popular music, and traditional music. Philharmonic orchestras, in particular, perform in world-renowned concert halls and often symbolize artistic prestige. Beyond these, there are also unique forms of orchestras such as military bands or marching bands. Military bands, especially, are composed of instruments convenient for playing while marching, such as trumpets, trombones, tubas, saxophones, drums, and cymbals.
